Posts Tagged China

Date: December 11th, 2010
Cate: Photo of The Day

City Map and Using Graphics

A concierge in a hotel shows us ways using an online map: But it wasn’t Google Maps. The service visualizes the city in graphics, which gives you a better idea of the landmarks. And unlike photographs, this might be more sustainable as it enables you a partial modification. As you can see, the map shows the hotel which is currently under construction. The frequency of updating the visuals are unknown, however, would be interesting to check out once in a while.

e-Dushi e都市: http://sh.edushi.com/

Date: December 10th, 2010
Cate: Product of The Day

Costa Coffee Package Design

Costa Coffee paper cups come with fridges, which makes them not only easier to hold but also lets you avoid the heat as is.

Shanghai, China.

Date: December 9th, 2010
Cate: Photo of The Day

Smaller Sales Unit than Planned

Observed in Family Mart, Shanghai.

Date: September 26th, 2010
Cate: Insight

Printer is new but the box is open. Don’t be mad.

I wonder how many people consider important that a newly purchased box would look new. I do feel that to some extent, I do enjoy the feel of opening a new box. Of course, that maybe because I am Japanese, as most people know, as a country of excessive wrapping culture.

As the research team had to purchase printers in two target cities, Chengdu and Shanghai, we had an opportunity to see how newly purchased electronics could arrive in your hands. In both cities, the box was opened. Most of the plastic wraps were removed, and we could see that someone had actually used it for once.

An opened and re-sealed box, is in fact, a sign that the electronics had been properly tested and both the shopkeeper and the customer had confirmed that it is moving properly. Just like when people handle with money: Instead of taking a risk of noticing the inaccurate amount of money delivered or malfunction of an electronics, consumers in China would prefer to rather have them checked on site.

Perhaps it may appear cumbersome and diminishing the fun to Japanese consumers, as crisp and new are the game they play; but when I see this practice, it also makes sense. Just like you will wear the clothes, people would make sure that the product actually works for you. Before getting back home to find the problem later. So do not be mad if your shopkeeper opens before you know it.

Date: September 25th, 2010
Cate: Insight, Photo of The Day

Safety alert and how to get away with it

Behold. This, is a buckle for a seat belt. Without, the belt part.

It happened on our way to the city center, as we arrived to Chengdu Airport. We took a car and one of our research staffs took the front seat. He was trying to find a way to buckle seat belt. (Mind you, quite a few people I know in China do not have a custom to wear seat belts. But our staff was from Shanghai, and probably have developed more urbanized habit than most of the people in the country.)

Then he realized, something has already occupied the spot of where he is supposed to buckle: there was this metal part inserted. Without the belt.

We were confused at that point, but it became so obvious once the driver took away the buckle out. Beep beep beep…subtle but loud enough to be disturbed. The taxi driver told us as if it’s nothing, that he purchased it a dollar or two.

What should we do when people do not have the custom of taking the safety measure which you consider to be useful? How can we design so that it would actually mean something rather than a beep that they need to shut it up by putting a meaningless piece of metal? The taxi in Chengdu is a fascinating reminder.

Date: September 24th, 2010
Cate: Photo of The Day
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How would you shop using a shopping basket without feeling weight?

At a supermarket Carrefeur in Chengdu, China. What a simple but a clever solution, this basket comes with a long handle and wheels.

Come to think of it, this is such a radical solution. Baskets have an advantage over carts for being compact, which enables customers to move around efficiently even in a crowded supermarket (and mind you, supermarkets in some countries are crowded because they are considered to be a nice family outing destinations). But when the entire weight is on your arm, it’s quite painful: that’s where the cart comes in. Carts definitely let you shop without literally feeling the weight, or to some extent, reminding you how much you are spending. And don’t forget, the big hassle from the shop keeper’s side, when you need to collect all those carts in one place. It’s very painful particularly when customers do not have any intention of putting back in one location.

The solution did not exist three years ago when I used to go to Carrefour in Beijing. We were frequent customers of Carrefour until they completely left Japan, too, but never have I seen them, either. If this is some kind of a local design solution, I quite admire whoever came up with this.

Date: September 19th, 2010
Cate: Culture

How to Achieve Security in Gated Communities

Earlier I posted about the Japanese apartments, equipped with security cameras for the sake of security. But when I see how people take security measures in China, I feel that there are stronger security concerns there.

Though not every one, many residents have brought in their bicycles inside the building to prevent people from stealing. In some cases, that meant some funny outlooks, like part of a bicycle sticking out from the window like the image above. Note that these buildings, mostly built in 80s, reach up to 6 or 7 stories (the rumor is that this was the maximum height they could build back then) and do not come with elevators: So residents who wish to secure their bicycles will have to carry up the stairs.

The sense of security can also be found from their doors. Doors were often doubled, to make sure they cannot be easily cracked. Each flat had their own selection of a door and a security gate, as apartments those times typically were not equipped with anything. Every single item, including the entrance door, had to be purchased and stalled individually.

This also makes me wonder how people feel about their own security. With the risk of your territory, even inside of the building or your very own door can be invaded, how far will you stretch your security concerns and take protective measures? When people see a stranger inside of the building, can they still dismiss as a visitor of your neighbor, or will you feel alarmed? Unlike Japan, where infrastructure seems to give visible and tangible assurances, here in Shanghai, people would probably would probably feel that security needs to be realized on their own. And certainly, that is perhaps the reason why we found out that many of these communities hold an election every year, to select their leader, who are typically retired, to use their time to represent their community and take their own protective measures against the possible crimes.

It would be interesting to see as the technology evolves, how people’s measures and concerns on the security could change. And while residents may find their neighbors being more nosy and overly engaging, I found it somewhat assuring that people have reasons to interact within these communities.

Date: September 17th, 2010
Cate: Photo of The Day

Up In The Air

Air above Chengdu was beautiful, blue, and clear. Such a contrast from what we have seen underneath.

Date: September 16th, 2010
Cate: Photo of The Day

Magazines in China come in Different Sizes

At Chengdu Airport, Sichuan Province, China. Came across with a magazine Psychology in two different sizes, one with standard magazine size, and another, in slightly smaller format. Contents exactly the same. What are they trying to do, could it be that one intends to serve travelers better?

It is amazing to see that exact same contents can come in different form factors. Even at times when Japanese publishers were healthy and profitable, never have I seen such offers.

Date: September 16th, 2010
Cate: Culture
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Keep Your Chopsticks Clean

In an exclusive restaurant in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, where we were welcomed by two pairs of chopsticks: On the right are the public chopsticks, which you could use to reach out to dishes served for sharing, and another pair, for more personal use, which is primarily for serving food into your mouth.

Despite of primarily living in Beijing earlier, it was first time to encounter such a thing. I think I have been to restaurants considered to be fairly upscale, but never had a chance.

Another, is at a food court near Carrefour, also in Chengdu. Here we found a chopstick cleaner, which basically disinfects the tip of each chopstick. Fascinating, as it moved back and forth to somewhat emphasize the cleaning process. It somewhat reminded me of staring into the washing machine as the drum washes my clothes.

It is interesting to compare this against some of the habits I have observed. Whenever we went to a fairly casual, street-style restaurants in Chengdu, our research staff from Shanghai always washed tips of his chopsticks with tea in his cup. The sense of sanitary and consequences seem to be spreading out here in China as well.

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